Lilies are a real decoration of any garden.
These magnificent flowers are especially loved by florists.
The tiger lily, which became the ancestor of the whole group of varieties, is deservedly recognized as one of the "stars" of the lily family.
Family lily
This family of monocots is also the second name - Liliaceae (Liliáceae). The family includes more than 600 species of plants, which are characterized by long linear leaves, bulbs, rhizomes or corms.
Learn more about such representatives of the Liliaceae family: tulips, hionodoksa, imperial grouse, kupena and kandyk.
Varieties of tiger lilies
In the wild, this perennial herb is found in China and Japan. In addition to tiger, it bears another name - lance lantolithous lily. The first description was given by the famous Swedish botanist Karl Linnaeus in 1753.
In height it grows up to two meters, it has a large whitish bulb. Leaves narrow, lanceolate. Flowers hang on stalks. They are orange or red-orange, covered with dark purple spots and gathered in racemes. 
Wild plant served as the basis for the creation of many cultivated varieties. A variety of gardeners is very popular Splendens, featuring large bright orange flowers. At grade "Yellow flowers" (Flaviflorum) lemon-yellow flowers, in variety Night flyer - red and maroon, and Pink tiger - pink. The variety "Forchuna" (Fortunei) differs earlier flowering. 
Important! Any parts of the tiger lily, as well as their pollen, can be deadly to cats. For other pets, it is considered quite safe.
Reproduction and planting
Breeding of this flower does not represent special difficulties for the gardener. The easiest way of reproduction is the use of onion buds, which begin to appear in the second year of plant life in the axils of the upper leaves. There is also another, more labor-intensive method of reproduction of this plant. For this method, flakes formed on the bulb are used. These scales are separated, always sprinkled with charcoal and germinated at a temperature of + 20 ... +25 ° C in wet sand or sawdust. Although this method is more troublesome, it guarantees earlier flowering of the lily, for the 2-3rd year of the plant's life instead of the usual 3-4th year.
And, of course, in addition to these methods, for planting, the bulbs of this flower are also traditionally used. 
The best place
Under the planting of this flower is usually given a flat, protected from strong winds and a little elevated place with good drainage. The plant loves the sun's rays, but it is better to shade the root zone. Usually for shading using dense decorative greens.
Spring or autumn?
Usually planting plants carried out in the fall, in September. However, in a more severe climate with early frosts, the landing is postponed to spring, when frosts stop.
Soil preparation and planting
Ideal for tiger lilies are light and slightly acid soils. Before planting, the soil is loosened, while the depth of loosening is 30-35 cm. If the soil is heavy, clay, then sand and ash are added to it. In the case of poor soil, it is desirable to fertilize it with humus, superphosphate and potassium salt at the rate of 7 kg of humus, 100 g of superphosphate and 50 g of potassium salt per square meter.
The bulbs are planted in conditional cells measuring 20 x 20 cm. The depth of planting is 10-15 cm. Sand is added to the bottom of the landing holes - this “cushion” is needed for better drainage. Before planting the bulbs, they are kept in a manganese bath for about half an hour (use 5 g of potassium permanganate per bucket of water). In order to plant bulbs reliably survive the winter, flower beds are wrapped with spruce branches (fir or pine). 
Did you know? Tiger lily has long been cultivated as a vegetable in China, Korea, and Japan. In its food are its bulbs, which have a sweet taste, as well as flowers as a seasoning.
Features of growing and care
Tiger lilies are unpretentious plants, but there are a number of things to consider when grooming them.
Distinctive features
This flower can grow up to 6 years in one place, but it is recommended to make a transplant no later than every 5 years. The plant can multiply by self-sowing, with the help of onion buds, and if you do not control this process, gardeners have to periodically thin out new shoots. Dried leaves and stems are cut, weeding is done. 
Did you know? The bulbs of this flower are used in traditional medicine, tonic, hemostatic and anesthetic drugs are made from them.
Watering, feeding, care for the soil
After planting the tiger lily in the open ground, special care and feeding are not required. However, in hot weather, need watering every night, and when watering water should not fall on the foliage, because it can cause sunburn in the plant. To retain moisture, mulching with peat or sawdust is also used. Soil loosening is periodically made. 
Fight against diseases and pests
The plant is quite resistant to diseases and pests, but can still be affected by gray rot, rust, fusarium. To combat them, various fungicides are used. Of the pests that can damage lilies, you can mention a lily fly, aphids, moth, leaf beetle, thrips. Insecticides are used against them.
Important! Tiger lily is a permanent carrier of the lily mosaic virus and therefore can be a source of disease for other plant species (insects are the carrier).
Distillation at home
One of the most useful properties of the tiger lily is the possibility of forcing it, i.e., artificially accelerating development in the home. For distillation using three-year bulbs, which are planted in the fall in pots. These pots for 2-3 months are placed in a cool place, while the soil should remain slightly moist. After the appearance of sprouts, the temperature is gradually raised to +20 ° C, and then the plants are transferred to a bright room. The flowering of such a lily lasts about a month. 
So, the tiger lily is very attractive to the gardener, despite some shortcomings (danger to cats, the source of the viral disease). This spectacular flower can be an ornament to any flower garden.
